Your home is arguably your most important possession. It’s where you create memories with your loved ones, store your other prized belongings, and take shelter. That’s why it’s of the utmost importance you keep your home safe. One of the best things you can do to keep your property safe is to learn how to maintain door locks. Your doors are one of the most common entry points for burglars, and they’re your first line of defense against a criminal. Make sure your locks stay strong with these 5 maintenance tips:
1. Make Sure Your Door Hangs Correctly
Funnily enough, the first step to maintaining your locks is to check your door. Your locks will not work properly if your door is not hung right. If your door is sagging at all, it puts extra weight on your door locks, which causes strain and malfunction. To prevent this, check around your door frame and see if there is any gapping. The space between your frame and the door should be consistent all along the sides, top, and bottom. Additionally, you should only see about an eighth of an inch of space between the frame and the door in any given place.
2. Inspect Screws and Strike Plates
The screws you use to secure your door play an important role in keeping your home safe. They should be at least three inches long for maximum strength in your hinges and strike plate. Additionally, make sure your strike plate is placed correctly and not crooked or loose.
3. Clean Your Locks
Most people don’t realize that they need to clean their locks. It’s hard enough to keep up with the rest of your home, considering kitchens and bathrooms often need cleaning multiple times a week. While it might be frustrating to add one more thing to your list of cleaning tasks, we promise it’s an easy one. All you need to do is use a soft cloth and a very mild soap to wipe down the outside of your locks. Do not use any chemicals or hard brushes to clean your locks, or this could cause damage that degrades longevity.
4. Lubricate Your Locks
Your locks work hard every day. The intricate mechanisms inside of them move and shift every time you enter or exit your home. Thus, it’s important to lubricate the inside of your locks so everything works together smoothly. Using a dry lubricant, spray the inside of your locks at least once a year. A few times a year is the max you should perform this routine maintenance task. Don’t overdo it. Often times less is more.
5. Be Careful When Copying Keys
Did you know that even the tiniest difference in keys makes it either impossible or difficult to lock and unlock your door? If your key isn’t exactly right, you’ll either not be able to use it, or you’ll have to jiggle your locks around to force a fit. This then results in damage to the inside of your lock. To avoid this problem, never make copies of copies when duplicating your keys. Instead, set aside an original key specifically for copying when you get new locks. Then, only copy keys using that copy. This ensures your key will be as accurate as possible. In the end, you won’t have to rekey
We Can Help Maintain Your Locks!
Keeping your home safe and secure is no easy task. This is especially true when you have about a thousand other maintenance requirements to keep up with, from your roof to your floors. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t worry. The reliable professionals at United Locksmith are here to help. Contact us 24/7 for assistance!